Spare parts procurement in South America
Traveling with a Unimog – that sounds like freedom, adventure and limitless possibilities. But what happens when the technology goes on strike and spare parts suddenly seem out of reach? This is exactly what we experienced on the first 1500 kilometers of our trip. One of the rear stub axles and the drive shaft had to be replaced – and these parts were simply not available in Chile. What followed was an adventure of a special kind: importing car parts to South America.
The problem: when the technology goes on strike
It all started with an unexpected defect: the quick-release axle and drive shaft of our Unimog broke on the first few kilometers. In a country where such special parts are rarely in stock, we had to wait, organize and improvise. Fortunately, we had our friend Jana, who works for a large Unimog dealer in Germany. Without her, we would probably have despaired – and we have her to thank for the fact that we persevered despite the uncertainty.
The import process: patience is the key
Importing large car parts from Europe to South America is anything but straightforward. Here are our key takeaways from this nerve-wracking time:
- Plan time: What we thought we could do in a week took several weeks.
It took a week just to order and provide the parts from the dealer.
Shipping by the large delivery company, which was supposed to deliver „within 7 days“, ended up taking 14 days.
Filling out customs documents, waiting for public holidays and the actual collection – it all added up. - Keeping an eye on costs: In addition to the delivery costs and customs duties, we had to rent accommodation (a so-called cabana) on site. With bulky parts like our drive shaft, transportation can quickly become more expensive than you think. Small parts, on the other hand, are often much cheaper and easier to ship.
- Consider alternatives: If we had known how long the process would take and what the costs would be, it would almost have been cheaper and quicker to fly to Europe to collect the parts in person. Sometimes it’s worth calculating such options.
Waiting with plan B
While our Unimog was in a Mercedes workshop in Chile, we moved into a cabana and tried to make the most of the waiting time. Renting a small house wasn’t planned, but it helped us to keep our patience and focus on the essentials: finding a solution.
Our tips for importing car parts to South America
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, here are our top tips:
- Using friends and networks: Without Jana, we would probably have given up. Trusted people with specialist knowledge can make all the difference.
- Plan your time realistically: Allow at least 6-8 weeks, even if you are promised fast delivery times.
- Understand customs procedures: Find out in advance which documents you need to save time and stress.
- Calculate costs: Compare delivery costs with other options such as a flight – sometimes direct collection is cheaper and quicker.
- Be patient: Waiting is part of the process. Use the time to explore the surroundings or prepare for the next adventure.